Flow switch



H. M. NACEY FLOW SWITCH Jul i1, 1933.

' Filed Sept. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I VEP War/y Waoe] July 11, 1933.: H, N Y 1,917,317

FLOW SWITCH Filed Sept. 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES v HARRY M. NACEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS rLow swrrcn Application filed September 15, 1930. Serial No. 481,941.

This invention has to do with flow indicators, and more particularly with means for automatically conveying intelligence by means of an alarm, signal or the like, as to the location in any open or closed fluid system,

of the existence of any flow or increased flow condition. Reference is especially hadto a piping system and to tanks, cisterns,

vessels and other receptacles in which water,

oil, gas, steam or any fluid may be stored or flowing, although the device may be used in many and various ways and under many and various circumstances as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the case of a system such as that involving automatic sprinklers, for example, it will be appreciated that conditions may arise, unexpected or otherwise, which will cause a flow of water 'from one or more sprinkler heads. Under such circumstances, in order to prevent the destruction of valuable mere chandise by the water, it is highly necessaryor at least desirable to determine at once the.

origin of this flow. Moreover, in any case where a flow occurs, whether by accident or bthefwisefflfia'propbi person should be'notified at once. In this conneption, wherea serious conflagration arises, the immediate presence of suitable fire fighting equipment may be necessary,.and accordingly a quickly.

operable and accurate signal is much to be desired.

It is accordingly one of the .principal'objects of my invention to provide means automatically operable for indicating, preferably at a point remote from the place of 00-.

currence, the location of any flow, or in--.

creased flow, or cessation of flow in any open or closed fluid containing instrumentalities, whether the fluid be under pressure or otherwise.

A further object of the invention resides in the immediate indication, at a point remote from the place of occurrence, of the opening of a normally closed, or of the closing of a normally open, fluid containing system.

Included among the objects of the invention, is one involving one or a plurality of flow indicating signals, disposed in any desirable locations and so arranged that each will be effective in connection with a flow in any branch of the system.

In carrying my invention into practice, each flow indicator or signal is provided with means located within the fluid container and actuated by a flow, increased flow, or cessation of flow, depending on the nature of the system, to operate circuit controlling means in an electric wiring system, thereby transmitting the signal in any desirable manner, as by a call, code, bell or enunciator, so that the desired person or persons may be immediately apprised of the condition. The wiring system may be of any conventional form, and may also be deslgned to transmit any selective signals over a fire alarm circuit in connection with any local fire department, private fire department, or any part of the building or buildings in which the devicev is installed, and the wiring can be arranged in a closed or an open circuit of a supervisory system with the indicator means located wherever most expedientf More specifically, the invention provides a switch actuated by magnets, the switch and one ofthe magnets being located in a fluid' tight compartment having a removable covor for repair, oradjustment purposes. The other magnet is-d'isposed in an adjacent com- ,partrnentjihich may communicate with a nancontai-ner' and" novel operating mechanism cooperates withthis magnet and'fluid so that whens'uch mechanism is actuated by the fluid, the magnet :is moved, thereby causing the first magnet tomove and operate the switch.

r 'The' "above, other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

On the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view, certain parts being shown'in elevation,-of one form of flow indicator attached to a conduit;

Figure 2 is a-sectional view taken approximately in theplane indicated by the lines IIIIII 'in Figure '1 Figure 3 is a' view: similar to Figure 1, but showing a modified iorm of my invention;

Figure-4 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line V.- V in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line VIVI in Figure 3.

As shown on the drawings;

Referring now to the various figures of the drawings, wherein like parts are indicated by the same numerals.

' of the conduit 25 will occupy the interior of i In Figures 1 and 2 is illustrated one form of construction which may constitute a signalling device 8. The device 8 comprises a pair of substantially dome-shaped sections 8a and 8b separated by a water tight partition 11,'connected by means of bolts 12. The partition 11 is provided substantially centrally with oppositely disposed bosses; cooperating respectively with the portions 13 and 14 to provide bearings for the pivot members 15 and 16. Permanent magnets 17 and 18 are fixed for rotation respectively with the -pivot' members 15 and 16. A worm gear 19,

carried by the pivot member 16, cooperates with a worm'20, mounted on a shaft 21, which is carried by the section 8?). Theworm 20 is provided with a crank pin 22 receiving one flow of fluid in the conduit 25.

The gasket 11 establishes a hermetical seal and the neck 24 providing communication between the interior of the section 8?) and the conduit25, it will be apparent that the fluid the section 86, and that the interior of section 8a will be entirely free of fluid. V

- Attached to the pivot member 15 for no;

- buoying effect of the latter.

that the various instrumentalities described erate while the fluid is in motion, but will operate when the fluid is at rest.

My invention may also be employed to indicate when the surface of any body of liquid reaches a point above or below any desired level. I'n such event, it would probably be desirable to locate the plane of the vane in a position where it is actuated up or down by the surface of the liquid, by reason of the While the construction just described embodies a preferred form of my invention, I illustrate in Figures 3 and 4, a somewhat modified construction which includes a unibeing watertight for obvious reasons. The

plugs 39 and 40 provide bearings for receiving the outer ends of pivot members 41 and 42,

the partition 36 serving also to prcvidebear ings for the opposite ends of said pivot'memtation therewith, is a switch arm .30. Inbers lhe" pivot members 41 and 42.are in sulating material 31 is attached to the wall of the section 86 by any suitable means such as the screws 32, and a pair oispaced resilient switch contacts 33 are secured to the insulating medium 31. The contacts 33 are connected by suitable wiring to a signalling system.

The operation of the structure just described is as follows:

. Any movement of the fluid in the conduit 25 I tem of fluid will cause the vane or impeller 29 to assume a position similar to that shown at 29a in dotted lines in Figure 1. This will result in actuation of the connecting rod 23 as shown in dotted lines, causing clockwise rotation of the worm 20' and corresponding rotation of the worm wheel 19 and its associated pivot member 16 and magnet 18. The movement of the magnet 18 will be accompanied by member 41 and is provided with a metallic contact 46 at its outer extremity normally lodged between and in engagement with the' spaced resilient contacts 47, connected to an insulating block 48 by screws or the like 49.

Insulated bushings 50, passing through the closure 51 of the-compartment 37, serve ,to

properly insulate the switchcontacts 47 from each other, and receive wiring which is connected to the screws 49.

Theclosure 52 is connected in watertight relation to the fluid containing chamber or compartment 38 to hermetically seal the same. The compartment 38 is. provided with a neck 53 whereby communication is set up between the compartment'38 'and the conduit 39. The partition 36 prevents escape of fluid way tur cues from the latter.

As in the case oi the modification shown in Figures and 2, the lower extremity of the neck 53 has pivotally connected thereto a bell crank lever 54 provided with a vane 55 sub ject to movement by reason of any flow in the conduit. The bell crank lever 54 is loosely pivoted to a connecting rod 56 at 57, in order to permit universal motion of said rod about the pivot 57 The pivot member 42 is provided with a projection 58., which extends normally substantially at right angles to the connecting rod 56. The arm or projection 58 of the'pivot 42 is connected by a universal joint or loose pivotal connection at 59 to the connecting rod 56. It will be evident that with this relationship of the parts,movement of the vane 55 in consequence of a flow of fluid will cause movement of the connecting rod 56 and corresponding rotation of the pivot 42, the magnet 44 mounted thereon, the pivot member 41, the magnet 43 and the switch arm 45, which will result in disengagement of the metallic contact 46'from the spring contacts 47. Suitable instrumentalities may be provided in connection with these contacts for of opening of this circuit.

It will be appreciated that while, in the.

specific constructions here shown, provision is made for operation of the signalling means in consequence of the movement of the vane in the fluid conduit in one direction, I consider it well within the province of my invention to provide for the actuation of the switch parts in the opposite direction or in both directions.

Referring to the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, I may, if I do so desire, provide additional means for securing the partition 11 to the section 8?), so that the fluid in said section will not disturb or in any way interfere with inspection and repair of the part housed in the section 8a, when the latter is removed from the position shown.

The vane or fin or impeller actuated by the change in flow condition of the fluid, is preferably made of material which is not affected by expansion or contraction and is exceedingly rapid in response to movement of the fluid.

The magnets move freely and easily in their respective mediums due to the pivotal connections between the pivot members upon which the magnets are mounted and the bearings therefor.

. An advantage of no little importance in connection with the use of my novel indicatmg instrumentallties resides in 1ts dependability, as the operation remains eflicient even after a long period of use.

The normal position of the vane or impeller is substantially at right angles to the path of flow of the fluid in the conduit, and after the flow ceases or subsides, or other conditions hereinabove mentioned return to normal, the impeller will also promptly return to its normal position.

expensive to manufacture, is durable and highly eflicient, necessitates few or no repairs and a mmimum of operatmg expense, and may be manufactured and installed very economically.

My invention may take the form of a mercury or like switch suitably connected and actuated by the vane or impeller, for signalling purposes as above set forth.

I amaware that details of my construc tion may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described, including a fluid conduit having a threaded opening therein, a hermetically sealed casing including a neck having threaded engagement in said opening, a. compartment in said casing communicating with the conduit, and a second compartment being hermetically sealed from said conduit, a magnet in the first compartment and a magnet in the second compartment, said magnets being mounted on aligned axes in juxtaposed relation for independent movement, an-electric circuit closing means in said second compartment adapted to be operated by the magnet in that compartment, a vane in said conduit pivotally fixed to the lower end of said neck and disposed to be oscillated by a change of the speed of flow of fluid in said conduit, and a means connecting said vane and said first mentioned magnet whereby motion of the vane is transmitted to said circuit closing means.

2. A flow switch for connection to a fluid conduit to indicate movement of fl-uid in the conduit, said switch comprising a bowl having an integral partition defining therewith a first compartment and a second compartment, said bowl having a depending passaged neck opening into said first compartment, means connected closing the upper end of said bowl, a magnet pivotally mounted in each of the compartments, a vane hinged on the lower end of said passaged neck, means extending in said neck connecting said vane and the magnet in the first compartment for conjoint movement, and switch means actuated by movement of the magnet in the second compartment in response to movement of the magnet inthe first compartment.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto subscribed my name at Chicag0, Cook County,

Illinois.

- HARRY 'M. NACEY. 

